How Do You Spell VISCOUS?

Pronunciation: [vˈɪskəs] (IPA)

The word "viscous" is pronounced /ˈvɪskəs/, with the stress on the second syllable. The spelling of the word reflects its pronunciation, with a double "s" to indicate the "ss" sound in the middle of the word. The "c" in "viscous" is pronounced as a /k/ sound, as opposed to a /s/ sound which is common in many words that have a "c" in them. This word is often used to describe substances with a thick and sticky consistency, such as honey or molasses.

VISCOUS Meaning and Definition

1. Viscous is an adjective used to describe a substance that is thick, sticky, and resistant to flow. It refers to the internal friction or resistance to shear within a fluid, which causes it to resist gradual deformation or movement. Viscosity is a measure of this resistance, with high viscosity indicating a thicker or more viscous substance.

   Viscous substances often have a honey-like consistency, forming long, stringy strands or exhibiting a slow pouring or flowing behavior. Examples of viscous fluids include syrup, molasses, honey, and some types of oils. In contrast, water is considered to have a relatively low viscosity, as it flows easily.

   The concept of viscosity is essential in various fields such as physics, chemistry, and engineering. It plays a crucial role in determining the behavior and flow characteristics of fluids. For instance, viscosity affects the rate at which a liquid pours out of a container, the resistance a fluid presents to the movement of objects through it, and the mixing or stirring of substances.

   The measurement of viscosity is often performed using viscometers, which determine the force required to move an object through a liquid or the time it takes for a liquid to flow through a narrow opening. These measurements are expressed in units such as pascal-seconds (Pa·s) or poise (P).

   In summary, the term viscous describes a substance that is thick and resistant to flow due to its internal friction. By understanding viscosity, scientists and engineers can better understand and manipulate the behavior of various substances.

2. Viscid, sticky; marked by viscosity (2).

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

3. • Glutinous; sticky; adhesive.

   • See under viscid.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for VISCOUS *

• viscious 38.4615384%
• visious 23.076923%
• visous 19.2307692%
• vicous 11.5384615%
• viscouse 3.8461538%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for VISCOUS

• visicious
• visons
• vicuous
• vicoius
• visius
• visicous
• visouse
• vicsous
• siscors
• viceous
• vicius
• wiscons
• vacous
• vicouse
• visciuos
• viscouis
• vishous
• viscuous
• discous
• viscos
• viscuus
• Diccous
• dishous
• Sascous
• incous
• vricous
• viscerous
• visercous
• vistour
• Viscaun
• Vastous
• vioscious
• risous
• noscous
• misnous
• Viscousee
• Viscony

Etymology of VISCOUS

The word viscous comes from the Latin word viscosus, which means sticky or adhesive. It is derived from the Latin noun viscum, which refers to the sticky substance produced by certain plants, such as mistletoe. The term viscum itself is believed to have originated from the Proto-Indo-European root *wes, meaning to stick or to adhere.

Similar spelling words for VISCOUS

• viscaceae,
• viscacha,
• viscus,
• viscose,
• vicious.